Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has opened a new facility at Changi Airport to maintain its own aircraft. The airline flies daily to Singapore from its Middle Eastern base.

Etihad has similar facilities in seven other overseas locations including London, Melbourne and Chicago.

Its chief operations officer, Captain Richard Hill, said: "Singapore is a key part of Etihad Airways' expanding global network and our decision to establish an engineering facility at Changi reflects our continuing investment in operations there and in the wider region."

The employees will take care of line maintenance work which includes routine pre and post-flight checks as well as minor repairs. The airline started flying to Singapore in September 2007 with three weekly flights. This was increased to daily flights from January.